Safety device



June 22, 1937. H. A. DEMPSEY 2,084,895

SAFETY DEVICE Filed Nov. 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet l s /6 3 nventor j} 5HA Em A. pEfi/PEE) x4 r/rf Gttomegs June 22, 1937. H. A. DEMPSEY r2,084,895

SAFETY DEV I CE Filed NOV. 16, 1955 2 Sheets-Sheet? Z'mvcntor HA RE)ALDEN/ 55) Patented June 22, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SAFETYDEVICE Harry A. Dempsey, Lakewood, Ohio Application November 16, 1935,Serial No. 50,228

10 Claims. (01. 291-33) This invention relates to improvements in Figure4 is a detailed showing of a sand imsafety devices for preventingskidding of motor peller wheel; vehicles on slippery surfaces and moreparticu- Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on line 5-5 larly to anaccessory designed to place gritty maof Figure 2;

5 terial such as finely crushed stone, sand, cinders Figure 6 is asectional view taken on line 6-6 5 or the like on the road-way adjacentthe wheels of Figure 2; of a motor vehicle to improve the traction ofFigure 7 illustrates my invention as applied to same. For convenienceall such materials will a tractor-trailer type of motor vehicle; bereferred to generally as sand and similarly the Figure 8 is an elevationtaken along line 8-8 device may conveniently be referred to as a sandofFigure 7 10 ing device. Figure 9 is a longitudinal sectional view of aIt is among the objects of this invention to promodified form of myinvention; vide a sanding device for motor vehicles which Figures 10 and10a are sectional views illuswill definitely maintain a quantity of sandimmetrating modified forms of impeller wheel blades;

diately adjacent to the vehicle wheels and which Figure 11 is a detailedshowing of a modified 15 will quickly and positively discharge sand uponform of spiral conveyor which may be employed demand of the vehicleoperator. A further obin conjunction with the species illustrated inFigject of the invention is to provide a sanding deures 1 to 8; vicehaving means to positively move a quantity Figure 12 is a bottom view ofthe device shown of sand from a storage supply to a discharge port inFigures 2 and 3; 20

and automatically seal the storage supply with Figure 13 is a detailedshowing of a sanding derespect to the discharge port subsequent tomovevice having an auxiliary discharge pipe which ment of said means. Afurther object of the inmay be employed in conjunction therewithwhenvention is to provide a sanding device which will ever desired.

upon actuation by the operator successively move Referring to thedrawings the sanding device 25 quantities of sand from a storage supplyto a disidentified generally at 2 in Figure 1 preferably charge portimmediately adjacent the vehicle comprises a rectangular container 3formed of wheels and which will close the storage supply sheet metalorthe like and proportioned to fit with respect to the discharge port inabsence of beneath the running board of a conventional operatoractuation. A further object of the inmotor vehicle. The container isprovided with a 30 vention is to provide a sanding device in which apartition as at 4 adjacent one end to form a houspair of moving elementssuccessively move sand ing thereat for a motor 1 and is partitioned asat 0 t e like o a Storage pp y to a c arge 5 at the other end to form agear housing for a port and one of said devices is arranged to autosandimpeller mechanism. Said last named parmatically seal the discharge portwith respect to tition is preferably inclined somewhat with re- 35 theother device and the storage supply. A furspect to the bottom wall ofthe container and the ther object of the invention is to provide asandbottom wall is preferably formed with co-operating device in which astorage supply container is ing inclined surfaces to facilitate themovement formed with a laterally oifset outlet and discharge of the sanddownwardly and longitudinally of the 40 openings and in which a membersuccessively container during operation of the sanding device. movesquantities of sand or the like from said The container may be providedwith one or more outlet to said discharge opening. A further obfillingspouts such as 6 which project upwardly ject-of the invention is toprovide a sanding dethrough the running board of the vehicle in a viceaccording to the foregoing objects that is position convenientlyaccessible for filling. The

simple in construction, reliable in operation, inlower wall or bottom ofthe container 3 is pro- 45 expensive to manufacture'and that may bereadvided with an outlet l2 arranged centrally and iiy applied tovarious types of motor vehicles. rearwardly of the container andexposing a por- Further objects and advantages will appear from tion ofthe impeller l0. Passing over said outlet the following description andthe accompanying and extending longitudinally of the bottom of the 5drawings wherein: container 8 is a screw or spiral conveyor shaft 8.

Figure 1 illustrates a sanding device as applied The forward end of theshaft projects through to a conventional passenger automobile; thepartition 4 and is preferably provided thereat Figure 2 is a medianlongitudinal vertical secwith reduction gearing l3--I4 connected to thetion of a preferred form of sanding device; driving motor I. The otherend of said shaft 5g Figure 3 is a horizontal section of the same;projects through the inclined partition 5 and is fitted thereat with aspur gear I operatively connected to the impeller III of the dischargemechanism. When the container 3 is provided with a supply of sand,crushed rock or the like and the 5 motor I operated, the spiral ribs orblade portions 9 of the shaft 8 function to move the sand disposed aboutthe shaft 8 toward the rear end of the container andtoward and above theaperture I2 To insure that the supply of sandiwill be conserved when thesandingdevice is inoperative and cured to the lower surface of thecontainer by spot-welding or other suitable means and is providedcentrally with a pin or shaft II which serves as a pivot pin for thesand impeller wheel II). The impeller wheel Iii, see Fig. 4, preferablycomprises a hub portion I8 and an outer rim portion I9 joined to eachother by radially extending blades 20. The hub portion I8 is mounted forfree rotation upon the'pin II and the blades 20 are arranged between andpreferably substantially normal to the flat bottom surface of the pan IIand the fiat overlying bottom surface of the container 3, see Fig. 5.The outer rim I9 of the impeller wheel II) is provided with notches orgear teeth 2i proportioned to cooperate with the gear I5 on the rear endof the shaft 8.

The sand impeller wheel I0 is preferably arranged as shown in Figure 2wherein the center of the wheel is ofi-set rearwardly with respect tothe outlet I2 of the container 3 whereby the sand conveyedlongitudinally of the container 3 will drop into the pan II between thespokes or blades 20 of the impeller wheel I0. Rotation of the impellerwheel carries the sand so positioned around and discharges same throughthe discharge port IS in the lower rearward wall of the pan II. Theopening I2 is preferably proportioned to have a semi-circular outline atits forward edge in which the radius is somewhat less than the radius ofthe impeller wheel and with its rear edge spaced away from the hub endsof the impeller blades and with its side edges spaced about 120 apart.This proportion provides that the compartments between the blades 20 areeach greater in area than the intercepted area of the outlet I2. Thisarrangement provides a little extra space in each compartment toaccommodate coarse particles which might otherwise tend to retard orinterfere with the free rotation of the impeller. Preferably thediameter of the casing II exceeds the diameter of the ring.

I9 of the impeller I0 to enclose the toothed flange 2I and therebyprovides an enclosed annular space S around the impeller wheel. I preferto provide at least a small communication between this space and thedischarge spout It as at S to permit the discharge of any solid materialthat might inadvertently enter the space S. I also contemplate as shownin Fig. 9 that hot exhaust gases may be led into the space S at theforward side thereof and discharged through the opening wheels of thevehicle and be independently controlled by the switch or switches 25, ormay be applied to any one wheel or any pair of wheels or the rear wheels.only as illustrated in Figure 1. Where trailers are drawn by a motortractor, one or more sanding devices may be carried by the trailers andelectrically controlled by the driver of the tractor.

To insure that the discharge port or spout I6 and the sand impellerdevice arranged thereabove will notbe rendered inoperative by cold or byfreezing of material thrown or splashed thereupon, I prefer to conducthot exhaust gases from the engine exhaust through'conduit -26 arrangedunder the container 3 and about the side of the casing II in which thesand loaded impeller compartments are disposed, and around K thedischarge port I6. The conduit 26 being arranged beneath the main bodyof the container 3 also heats said containerand maintains the storagesupply therein in a dry usable condition at all times. A

A modified form of my invention is illustrated in Figure 9 in which thelower wall or bottom of the container 3a is inclined rearwardly toinsure movement of sand rearwardly therealong toward an outlet IZa,similar to the outlet I2, the jarring movement of the vehicle in motionfacilitating the movement of the sand. The motor I in this embodiment ispreferably geared directly to the" impeller wheel Ill. The motor isseparated from the storage part of the container by a partition 28 andthe sanding device operates in other respects as in the preferredembodiment of Figures 2 and 3 heretofore described. -In this embodi-v-lment I have shown an exhaust gas conduit 21 leading through thecontainer 3a. adjacent its lower wall and into the annular space betweenthe impeller wheel I0 and the side walls of the casing I'Ia, thence tothe discharge spout Ilia: through the opening IIb.

A sanding device constructed according to my invention may beeconomically adapted to tractor-trailer combinations as shown in Figures7 and 8 wherein a relatively large sand storage con-f tainer 30 isarranged immediately behind the cab of the tractor part ofthe unit andan impeller device 32 of the type such as shown in Figures 2, 3 and 9 ismounted at each side of said container 30. The intermediate portion ofthe lower wall of the container 30 is preferably formed with oppositelyinclined portions 3| which facilitate the movement of the sand towardthe sand impellers 32 and cooperate to form a housing for a motor 33which may be provided with oppositely extending shafts 34 arranged tomove the sand toward the impellers and drive the sand impellers in amanner heretofore described. In some instances it may be found desirableto provide the discharge ports 35 of the tractor sanding device -with atail Pipe 36 such as shown in Figure 13. Such a tail pipe shouldpreferably extend substantially vertical and offer substantially noresistance or delay in delivery of sand from the impeller to the roadsurface. I prefer to use the While I prefer that the impeller blades 20he straight, thick enough to be substantially rigid, and be normal toand have a scraping contact with the surfaces above and below betweenwhich they are confined in their movement, I contemplate that thehandling of a wide range of shapes and sizes of material may befacilitated with blades of other designs and constructions. Analternative form of impeller blade is illustrated in Figure wherein themetallic portion of the 10 blade a is fitted with a more or lessresilient face 20b made of felt, rubber or similar material. The lattertype of impeller blade may be suited to certain types of sand or crushedrock used in the sander. In this connection I have found that 15 sand orcrushed stone having particles about in size are well suited for trucksand material about the size of buck-shot operates efliciently inconnection with lighter vehicles, such as passenger automobiles.

2 In Figure 10a '1 have illustrated an alternative form of impellerblade construction wherein the upper edge of the blade 41! is providedwith a resilient or flexible member 43 which may flex with respect tothe blade and the edge of the outlet formed in the lower wall 44 of thecontainer 3. The .direction'of the movement of the impeller wheel andblade 4! with respect to the outlet in the wall 44 is indicated by thearrow 45 and the member 43 is preferably secured to the trailing or rearface of the blade 4|, the forward face being for the purpose ofdescription on the side of the arrow 45. The flexing of the member 43will permit the metallic part of the blade to move with respect to sandparticles which happen to be positioned at the upper edge of the bladeas the blade passes-beneath the edge of the outlet in the container wall44 and such particles will merely be forced over the edge of the member43 into the next compartment between the blades. when dischargingmovement of the wheel ceases or during movement of the blades from thecontainer outlet to the discharge port the member 33 will be positionedagainst the underside of the wall 44 and effectively seal the 45 sandtherein at least against movement toward the discharge port. The spacingof the upper edge of the metallic blade M from the wall 44 or thevertical extent of the flexible member 48 may be governed by the size ofthe material be- 50 ing handled and would probably not greatly exceedthe maximum diameter of the stone or sand particles being moved.

Auxiliary storage tanks may be arranged in the ,r luggage compartment asat at or under the vehlcle seat. as at M or elsewhere, said auxiliarytanks connected by means of a. flexible tubing 42 or the like with thecontainer 3. I prefer that the container 3 in its relation to anyreserve or auxiliary storage tank be large enough to supply the impellerI0 with sufllcient material for any emergency without any delay incidentto movement of the material from the storage tanks to the main container3. Among the advantages flowing from the construction shown wherein the5 mechanism which positively moves the sand is arranged immediatelyadjacent the wheels, is that the assembly is operative to immediatelyrespond to the operator's actuation to place a quantity of sand betweenthe wheels and roadway regardless of the time which may be required forsand to move from large supply tanks which of necessity are remote fromthe wheels.

From the foregoing it will be seen that I have provided a sanding devicewhich is positive in 7 its sanding action and is constructed to conservethe sand supply when the device is not in operation. While I havedescribed in considerable detail preferred embodiments of my invention,it is obvious that others skilled in the art to which this appertainsmay make various changes without departing from the spirit and scope orthe inventionas'definedby the claims.

I claim:

, 1. In a sanding device for motor vehicles, a

storagecontainer having an outlet in its lower wall, means within saidcontainer to move sand toward said outlet,a discharge port oflset withrespect to said outlet, means comprising a wheel having impeller bladesrotatively mounted with respect to said outlet and port to successivelyvmove quantities of sand from said outlet to said port, said last namedmeans being actuated by said first named means. I

2. In a sanding device-for motor vehicles, a storage container having anoutlet in its lower wall, means within said'container to move sandtoward said outlet, a discharge port offset with respect to said outlet,means comprising a wheel having impeller blades rotatively mounted withrespect to said outlet and port to successively move quantities of sandfrom said outlet to said port, said last named means being actuated bysaid first named means. and driving means for said first named meansarranged to be controlled by the vehicle operator.

3. In a sanding device for motor vehicles, a longitudinal storagecompartment having an outlet adjacent one end, a screw conveyor arrangedadjacent the bottom wall of said container in'a position to move sand tosaid outlet upon actuation, a discharge port oflset with respect to saidoutlet and an impeller'wheel interposed between said outlet and saiddischarge port, said impeller wheel comprising spaced blades definingcompartments which are successively aligned with said outlet and saiddischarge port by wheel rotation, an operative connection between saidscrew conveyor and impeller wheel, and driving means controlled by thevehicle operator operatively connected to said screw conveyor.

4. In a. sanding device for motor vehicles. a container having an outletin its lower wall, a conveyor arranged longitudinally within saidcontainer to move sand contained therein toward said outlet, means toconduct sand from said outlet comprising a. casing secured beneath saidoutlet provided with a discharge port offset with respect to saidoutlet, a wheel arranged within said last named compartment havingblades arranged normal to the bottom wall of said casing and saidcompartment and bearing againstsaid last named surfaces, a hub portionconnecting the inner ends of said blades adjacent the center of thewheel and a rim portion connecting the outer ends of said blades therebyforming a series of pockets which have their upper sides open to saidoutlet and their lower sides open to said discharge port whereby uponwheel rotation said pockets move quantities of sand from said outlet tosaid discharge port, said wheel rim portion operatively connected tosaid conveyor means to transmit conveyor motion to said wheel, a drivingmechanism operatively connected to said conveyor and a control for saiddriving means arranged within the motor vehicle in a positionconveniently accessible to the operator.

5. In a sanding device for motor vehicles, a storage container having anoutlet in its lower wall, a housing member arranged beneath saidcontainer having a discharge port oifset with re- 75 spect to saidoutlet, means rotatably mounted 'with'respect to said outlet and saidport to suc- -blades of said series forming sand receiving pockets, atleast one edge of each of said blades being spaced'with respect to saidlower wall, resilient means extending upwardly from said spaced edge,

and closing the space between the rigid portion' of the blade and saidlower wall whereby said sand receiving pockets are sealed with respectto each other and with respect to said container outlet.

6. A sanding device for motor vehicles comprising a storage containerhaving a lower wall provided with an outlet, a member connected to saidcontainer having a wall parallel to said lower wall, a discharge portformed in said member wall offset with respect to said outlet, meansarranged intermediate said walls adjacent said outlet to positively movequantitiesof sand from said outlet to said discharge port comprising animpeller wheel mounted for pivotal movement on said container, saidwheel having radially extending blades arranged substantially normal tosaid walls to define sand receiving compartments therebetween, the edgesof the blades adjacent said outlet being spacedwith respect to saidoutlet and provided with a flexible sealing member having portionsextending at an angle with respect to each other, one of said portionsdisposed substantially parallel with respect to said lower wall and theother portion extending subsantially parallel to the blade supportingsame whereby said sealing member may flex with respect to said lowerwall to accommodate particles of sand positioned between the blade edgeand the edge of said outlet as the blade moves with respect thereto.

7. In a sanding device for motor vehicles, a

' container having an outlet. in its lower wall, a

conveyor arranged longitudinally within said container to move sandcontained therein toward .said outlet, means to conduct sand from saidoutlet comprising a casing secured beneath said outlet provided with adischarge port ofiset with respect to said outlet, a wheel arrangedwithin said ;last named compartment provided with blades havingresilient edge portions arranged normal to the bottom wall of saidcasing and said compartment, a hub portion connecting the .lnner ends ofsaid blades adjacent the center of the wheel and a rim portionconnecting the outer ends of said blades thereby forming a series ofpockets which have their upper sides open to said outlet and their lowersides open to said discharge port whereby upon wheel rotation saidpockets move quantities of sand from said outlet to said discharge port,said wheel rim portion operatively connected to said conveyor means totransmit conveyor motion to said wheel, a driving mechanism operativelyconnected to said conveyor and a control for said driving means arrangedwithin the motor vehicle in a position conveniently accessible to theoperator.

8. In a sanding device for motor vehicles, a

storage container having an outlet in, a lower portion thereof, ahousing member carried by said containerprovided. with upper and lowerwalls,

.said lower wall having a discharge port therein oflset with respect tosaid outlet, means rotatably mounted with respect to said outlet andsaid port to successively move quantities of sand from said outletto'said port comprising a hub portion having a series of radiallyextending blades arranged subsantially normal tosaid walls, adjacentblades of saidseries forming sand receiving pockets, the edges of eachof said blades being spaced slightly with respect to said walls,flexible means extending from at least the lower edges and closing thespace between the spaced edge portion oi. the

blade and the adjacent wall whereby said sand receiving pockets aresealed with respect to each other. a r

9. A sanding device for motor vehicles comprising a storage containerhaving a lower wall provided with an outlet, a member connected to saidcontainer having a wall parallel to said lower wall, a discharge portformed-in said member wall ofiset with respect to said outlet, meansarranged intermediate said walls adjacent said outlet to positively movequantities of sand from said outlet to said discharge port comprising animpeller wheel mounted for pivotal movement with respect to saidcontainer, said wheel having radially extending blades arrangedsubstantially normal to said walls to define sand receivingpo'cketstherebetween, the edges of the blades being spaced I I with respect tosaid walls and provided with flexi- "within said last named casingprovided with blades having resilient edge portions arranged normal tothe bottom wall of the casing and bearing thereagainst, a hub portionconnecting the inner ends of said blades adjacent the center of thewheel and a rim portion connecting the outer ends of the blades, saidblades thereby forming a series of pockets open upwardly to said;outletand open downwardly to said discharge port,"

whereby upon wheel rotation said pockets move quantities of sand fromsaid outlet to said discharge port, said wheel rim portion arranged tobe engaged by driving mechanism, a driving motor provided with reductiongearing operatively connected to said wheel rimand a control for saiddriving motor arranged within the motor vehicle in a positionconveniently accessible to the operator.

HARRY A. DEMPSEY.

